Inulin – Natural Dietary Fiber

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Inulin – Natural Dietary Fiber

Inulin is a type of fiber consisting of naturally occurring polysaccharides and storage carbohydrates that can be found in 36,000 types of plants and vegetables. If you read the labels on processed foods, you will find that most of them list inulin. Yes, you have eaten inulin many times in your life.

What exactly is inulin? How does it benefit your body?

What You Need To Know About Inulin

Inulin is a non-digestible, natural, soluble dietary fiber that can be found in many varieties of vegetables, fruits, and other food products. It is composed of several simple sugars linked together and is a naturally occurring oligosaccharide that belongs to a group of fructans (carbohydrates).

Inulin is used as a prebiotic agent to stimulate the development of healthy intestinal bacteria. Inulin can be found in common food products such as fruits, vegetables, dietary supplements, and other health supplements.

What Are the Benefits of Inulin?

Inulin has many health benefits especially for those who are having digestion problems. Other benefits include:

  • It controls blood sugar levels. This is especially helpful for diabetes patients. Inulin has natural antioxidant properties that help with balancing the glucose level of the blood.  People who take inulin report better  responses to sugar with blood sugar levels.
  • It lowers risks of hypertension and heart diseases. Research confirms that inulin lowers levels of fats in the body, specifically triglycerides. Patients with heart conditions are given supplements containing inulin. It can prevent high blood pressure and heart problems.
  • It helps with digestion. Studies show that inulin is used to help with bowel movement and digestion. It is used for constipation and irregular bowel movement. It is widely used with elders who have problems with digestion.
  • It can help with weight loss. Although it is rich in fibre and all signs pinpoint to inulin being a weight loss agent, it should be paired with exercise and a healthy diet.

For users with high triglycerides, the recommended dose is 10 to 15 grams every day. For digestion treatments, the recommended dose is 20 to 40 grams every day until the digestion becomes regular again.

Foods Rich in Inulin

Inulin can be found in many food products but some specific foods that are rich in this dietary fibre include:

  • oats
  • wheat
  • bananas
  • berries
  • pineapple
  • asparagus
  • onions
  • radish

Inulin can aid in cleansing and detoxification. Regular use can eliminate digestive problems and remove fats from the body. Thus, this dietary fibre is an absolutely healthy part of your diet.

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By | 2016-01-26T16:52:41-05:00 January 26th, 2016|Diet, Food, Natural Health, No SF|Comments Off on Inulin – Natural Dietary Fiber

About the Author:

Korie Cantor is a blogger and writer who blogs about home decor, gardening and living an organic lifestyle. She possesses a great sense of style. Being a fashionista, she loves to share her thoughts about fashion and the latest trends.